Libs honour former minister Lyons

FORMER State Liberal Minister Brendan Lyons died on Tuesday, aged 83.Mr Lyons - the son of late prime minister Joseph Lyons and Australia's first female MHR, Dame Enid Lyons - was a minister in the Gray government in the 1980s.The State Liberals paid tribute to him yesterday."In the year he ran for state parliament, he said that governments should forget political ideology and fancy theories, and apply common sense to the problems faced,'' Leader Will Hodgman said.Mr Lyons, who was an MHA for Bass, had a broad ministerial career.His roles were as minister for Housing, Small Business, Consumer Affairs, Assisting the Minister for State Development, Responsible for Recreation, Sport and Recreation and Inland Fisheries.A brother, Kevin Lyons, was Liberal deputy premier.Another brother is Advocate columnist, journalist and author Peter Lyons.Joseph Lyons was the only prime minister so far to come from Tasmania.More in tomorrow's Advocate.